Pages

Welcome to the Curlicue Creations blog.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 13 Blog Tour

Hello quilters! Welcome to my little segment of the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 13 Blog Tour. I can't believe we're up to 13 issues of 100 Blocks already! Here's my block for this issue, Evening Bloom. It's in the applique section, on page 14. If you love applique as much as I do, this block will be fun to sew! I believe there are 67 pieces? Count them if you want to.

I made my block with these gorgeous fabrics - Wool Needle Flannels III by Primitive Gatherings for Moda Fabrics. So delicious!

I used a green tone on tone plaid for the bias stems. To make the stems, cut the fabric 1-1/4" wide on the bias, fold in half, and sew a tiny seam along the length of the strip. Press the seam under and voila! - you are ready to applique.

To help with stem placement, I drew a four by four grid with chalk onto my background piece. I did not have to remove the markings later, they were gone by the time I was finished sewing the stems down.

Next, I used tiny applique pins to secure the stem in place, and stitched it to the background fabric.

I applied the flowers, leaves, and berries using the fusible applique method - always fun!

To keep my pieces separated while I work, I put them into little zipper sandwich bags as soon as I cut them out.

Here you can see the stems sewn in place and the flowers, berries, and a few of the small leaves after fusing. I prefer to fuse a few at a time, rather than trying to lay out all the pieces at once. I just give them a quick tap with the iron at this stage, so if I need to move anything I still can. I give everything a final fuse when all the pieces are in place.

Here is a close up pic of the berries and leaves.

After all the pieces are fused in place, I like to go around each patch with matching thread and a zigzag stitch. You can just barely see the stitching here, on the bud and leaves.

Here is the completed block, once again, Evening Bloom. I hope you enjoyed seeing my creative process and maybe learned a tip or two for sewing my block.

And now for the giveaway! If you would like your very own copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 13, please leave a comment below, and let's make it interesting. Please comment about who taught you to quilt. I'll choose a random winner at the end of the blog tour. Please be sure I have a way to contact you, should you be the lucky one.

To return to the blog tour, and more quilty inspiration, click here: Quilty Pleasures.

Opps.. I forgot.. I had a coworker Katie, many years ago, who taught me to quilt. Katie took me to the quilt store where we bought a book, she helped me choose fabric and taught me to applique as well. I still have that quilt and it is very special to me.

I first did a hand sewing/quilting class at my nearest community centre for my Mother's Day present after my son was born. That was in 1998. I have been sewing ever since and I just love hand sewing and quilting the most.,it is so relaxing and gratifying. Thanks for the chance to win. Keep up the great designing..

My mother was a seamstress. I hate making clothes, but I liked making everything else. My maternal grandmother gave my sister and I a set of McCalls craft books and one was quilting. I've started and stopped quilting. But now that my children are out of the house I can spend more time quilting.

I made my first quilt in the early 70's when I was in grad school No one I knew quilted, so when I saw a lob cabin quilt in a crafting magazine I bought fabric, made cardboard templates and got to work.

When my dad retired from Wonder Bread in the late 1970's my folks moved to the family cabin in the woods of northern Minnesota. Mom was quilting by this time... however, when I was home from visits or they came to Georgia she didn't bring her quilting she'd knit. So even though she quilted I took lessons at a quilt shop in Cobb County a suburb to Atlanta. Quilt shops are still my favorite place to hang out.Kaylace@bellsouth.net

I had purchased my first Bernina and the sewing machine salesman purchased my first quilting class :-) I have not been the same since! I loved taking classes at the local quilt shop. The teachers were wonderful and the inspiration endless. Thank you for a chance to win a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks. Your block design is lovely!

Thank you for a chance to win. I took a quilting class over 20 years ago while my husband was stationed in Germany. I'm afraid I do not remember the teacher's name, but we created a wall hanging sampler quilt with four blocks.

You have designed such a pretty block!! Also thank you for the detailed instructions! My Mom and Aunts taught me how to sew, applique and embroider as I grew up. I've been playing with fabric as long as I can remember - they always sewed on a projects together and I was fortunate to be either playing either alone or with cousins on some type of creative "sewy" type of project too.

I always like to see what you come up with! I'm not sure that I don't remember not sewing. my mom and my grandma always had us helping them cross-stitch and sew. pound puppies, cross-stitch, shorts, mending, pillows, even a wallet! cousins would take turns spending a week at a time and grandparents' house every summer. Grandpa would take us hiking in the mornings, and sometimes treat us to art lessons in the afternoon. Grandma always had us working on little sewing projects. if I couldn't sleep at night, I know I could find my grandma at the sewing machine!reillyr2(at)hotmail(dot)com

I wanted to make a cat quilt in honor of my black and white cat so I took a beginner's class in quilting. It took me 2 years to finish this quilt. The lady that help with the machine quilting asked me to place this quilt in our small fair. I did and it won lst place. So happy I learned how to quilt.

Your block is so pretty and thanks for sharing how you section your background to get all those pieces in the right place.My grandmother made quilts and I loved watching her pick the colors of fabric she used in her quilts. Grandma always had a new quilt magazine and we loved reading them and deciding on a new quilt to make. djcutting2 at gmail dot com

Evening Bloom is a terrific name for an applique flower. I love my garden at night as I've planted some white petunias that "glow" in the moonlight. Thanks for all the pictures of your block and your progress. Even though my grandma quilted, I learned to hand quilt from a neighbor in Iowa.

I started sewing at the age of 7 (65 years ago!) in a 4-H program. I majored in home economics in college and became a high school teacher. In 1973, I was asked to develop a quilting program in preparation for the Be-Centennial. --- long explanation for saying learned by reading and practice of skills learned over a long period of time.quiltschon@att.net

I took a class at the local community college the year my youngest graduated high school. Not long after I started attending a local sit n sew group and met and became friends with an older woman in her 80s. She became a mentor and she taught me everything I wanted to learn. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of the magazine and for sharing your beautiful block.

I started "quilting" in grade school when we would embroider quilt blocks for baby quilts sold at the church bazaar. My next encounter really started with classes from a local quilt store and friends. rmgsummers @ yahoo . com

I was taught to quilt by a lady named Ann Starkey. We did all hand stitching, cutting with scissors, and used calico fabrics. I am grateful for the advent of rotary cutters, machine stitching, and the plethora of quilting fabrics available now.

When I was around 8 years old I had my first introduction to hand quilting but I couldn't make my stitches small enough nor consistent enough. From then on I just watched my mother, my grandmother and other ladies from the community quilt on the large wooden frame. I really didn't try again until a few years ago. I've been following different blogs and YouTube to learn more techniques.

I joined a bee at my local quilt guild, and those nice ladies taught me. Good thing, too, since I didn't know about rotary cutting or quarter inch seams to name a few things - and those are the most basic skills!

I learned the essentials of quilting from my high school best friend. She lugged her sewing machine on an airplane and taught me in a hotel room. What a good friend she is! I think of her every time I check my quarter inch seam.

Your block is lovely. As far as who taught me to quilt...well, I already knew how to sew, so I took a quilting class to learn the basics of quilting. From there, I've learned a lot from friends and in my quilt guild. Thanks for sharing with us. cknapp3626(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Charming block!!! I took a quilting class in the late 1970's or early 1980's from Nan Jean Duer, who was in charge of the quilting group at a local church in Elgin, Illinois. They had a yearly Christmas bazaar and a yearly quilt show that I attended that accelerated my budding interest. I was honored to take a class from her. Of course, the quilting was by hand in the class--I never did finish my "big" project (story of my life), a patriotic tote-bag.

There is no one in particular who taught me to quilt, but there are many bloggers who I've followed and read tons of posts that gave me great advice about quilting. I've never taken a class or even known anyone well enough to share this love. Every day I learn something new!

A wonderful lady named Mrs. Clara taught me to quilt. She taught us to quilt and piece by hand. This taught us the importance of being accurate. It didn't take long for us to realize we could be quilting/piecing by machine. I am totally addicted to quilting. Congratulations on your block being selected. This just might be the block that gets me to try working with wool.

I'm pretty much a self-taught quilter, though I've borrowed tons of books from the library. When I was a little girl my mom made Dresden Plate quilts for my sister and me and she and my grandmother quilted them. Either I wasn't interested or they thought I was too young for me to learn to quilt. (And to my knowledge, those are the only quilts my mom ever made.)

I am mostly self taught but have a great resource when I need help -- my MIL is an accomplished seamstress and quilter who has shared lots of knowledge over the years. I've also taken a few classes here and there.

I'm pretty much self taught, but I learned to sew when I was young so that gave me a good start. I joined qal's and that's how I picked up knowledge about the craft. I still have quite a lot to learn, but do enjoy the process.

This Hop is sure encouraging me to try Applique again...I had tried Hand Applique awhile back..liked it..but I was soooo slow at it! lol I didn't really have anyone teach me to Quilt..diddled a bit years ago...then became serious about it..in last few years. My Daughter in NC wanted to start...so we are learning together..tho I am in Ohio..lol..we are doing long-distance We choose a pattern & both make same one..but to suit the other persons taste..then exchange them..usually when she is home for Christmas! Grrrrreat fun!! :)

Such lucious colors and beautiful design. No one really "taught" me to quilt. A friend at church quilted a lot and it peaked my interest, but I did not get into quilting until a few years later. I guess I am a self taught pattern-follower...lol Sewfaithfully@hotmail.com

After realizing that if I wanted a quilt, I was going to have to make it myself, I started classes at LQS 24 yrs ago and have been hooked on quilting ever since. There have been many great teachers along the way.

Your block is beautiful. I am self taught by following blogs and youtube. Having sewn from the time I was about 11 or 12 it wasn't too difficult for me and I have learned so much with each one that I have made.

Beautiful but so many pieces is beyond how much I like to appliqué. No one in my family did any type of needlework. I am self taught in everything. I do have to give a big shout out to Eleanor Burns. She turned my love of sewing into a love of quilting!

some years ago, my sis gave me a bare essentials kit and very basic instructions and got me started on quilting. told me to look up quilting on my [computer she taught me to use it, too] for more info and to have at it. I did, and am so thankful. it helped me out of the foggy netherlands of losing hubby to cancer and surviving my own bout with it.

I really enjoyed your step by step creation of your block. Wool is interesting to work with and fusing it down first makes it so much easier to work with. What a beautiful block you ended up with! I have had the pleasure of teaching many different children to sew while teaching K -6 in rural schools...but it is also so much fun teaching my granddaughter to sew, knit and crochet as she grows up. It is so much fun to share what you have learned with others and brings much joy. Thank you for sharing your talent with us.

I sort of taught myself... I knew how to sew, and so I just bought a book and made a table topper...with 5/8" seams!!Cute block. Congratulations getting your block chosen for the magazine! Love the colors too.

Your block is lovely. I took a quilting class about 1986 & it went nowhere. We used cardboard templates & cut pieces out by hand (getting blisters was no fun). I'm sure I still have those pieces boxed somewhere in the attic. But then in 2007, I discovered the rotary cutter, and I kind of taught myself to quilt, from books & magazines. Thanks.

A fun block; I can't stop appliqueing leaves and berries! I taught myself to sew and was making a lot of my clothes by age 13. but I did take a basic quilting class 17 years ago and never sewed clothes much again. pjrquilter(at)msn(dot)com

First of all, your applique work is gorgeous, especially the machined zig-zag. This may seem odd, but my daughter has been teaching me and referring me to sources of more information. I've only been actively at it for about 3 years, and I am now beginning to feel confident. However, I am not feeling confident enough to tackle applique like this. Your work is wonderful.

What a beautiful block. I have yet to do applique but it seems about 90% of the blocks I'm drawn to are applique, so I know it's only a matter of time.

I had no one to teach me how to quilt. I've been learning on my own from reading blogs and watching a lot of video classes on Craftsy. Between the two, I feel pretty good about my knowledge. I did take a beginner quilting class locally, however it was not as good as it could have been. We were not taught alot of things and the biggest complaint I had about that class is that we weren't taught a thing about binding which I would assume should be an absolute must in learning to quilt. How can you ever finish a quilt if you never get taught binding? I've learned much more online than from that class.

My mom taught me to sew when I was young. I made my first apron, a gift for my mom, at the age of 5 with help from my brother; he was on his hands and knees operating the treadle and I guided the fabric under the needle. I also was in 4-H and learned a lot thru that organization. kthurn(at)bektel(dot)com

My first quilting attempt was when I volunteered to put together the picture blocks that my son's preschool class drew. This was a bit challenging but it turned out okay and the teacher gave it back to me (I still have it). My next attempt was to help my daughter make a small quilt for an apprentice project in 6th grade. Her little quilt turned out rather nicely even though she had an amateur guiding her. I finally took a class at my local quilt shop to learn more about it. Since then I have taken many more classes to learn new techniques.

About Me

Hello. I'm a quilt designer with a love of color. I spend my days sewing in an old vintage farmhouse in the rolling countryside of North Carolina with my children, cats, and nature all around. The sky enchants me. It's ever changing colors and moods give me daily inspiration. Welcome.